Who Are The Costliest Buys for Sunrisers Hyderabad?
SRH last won the IPL in 2016 (IPLT20.com)
The IPL has seen many teams rise and fall, but one team that has been consistent in the last few years, is the Sunrisers Hyderabad, known as the Orange Army. Their debut season in 2013 saw them enter the playoffs, and since then, they have been a force to reckon with in the IPL.
In 2016, under the dynamic leadership of David Warner, they emerged as champions of the league. The team continued to make strides and in 2018, with Kane Williamson as captain, they reached the final, but unfortunately, had to settle for the runners-up spot.
For More Such Reads from OneCricket, Click Here.
The last season was a mixed bag for the team. After a rocky start with two losses, they went on to win five consecutive matches. But the second half of the season proved to be a tough road, with just one win in the last seven games.
This slump caused them to finish in 8th place with only six wins out of 14 games, prompting some crucial decisions for the team. As a result, the team decided to release their captain Kane Williamson and star West Indian batter Nicholas Pooran ahead of the auction, a bold move that surprised many.
The team has always been known for its strategic investments in foreign players, and this year was no exception. They made headlines by securing the services of the young English batsman, Harry Brook, for a significant sum. Their fans will be hopeful that the inclusion of the young prodigy will help take the team to new heights.
As Aiden Markram’s men gear up to commence their IPL 2023 campaign against Rajasthan Royals on April 2, let’s take a look at Sunrisers Hyderabad’s top 5 costliest players in the IPL auction history.
5. Washington Sundar: INR 8.75 Crore in 2022
Washington Sundar, the young and gifted all-rounder, struck gold at the IPL 2022 auction as SRH shelled out a whopping 8.75 crore rupees to secure his services. But alas, the Tamil Nadu cricketer failed to live up to his price tag, only mustering a paltry 101 runs in 9 games at a dismal average of 14.43.
Washington Sundar will look to redeem himself after a poor IPL 2022 (IPLT20.com)
Furthermore, his bowling was also lackluster, with just six wickets at an average of 39.83. Nevertheless, the SRH management has kept faith in him and retained him for the upcoming 2023 season. Sundar will undoubtedly be keen to make amends for his previous performance and put on a much-improved show to aid SRH in their quest to secure their second IPL trophy.
4. Rashid Khan: INR 9 Crore in 2018
At the IPL 2018 auctions, the SRH management astounded everyone by shelling out a staggering 9 crore rupees on a young Afghan spinner. Many were skeptical about the investment, but the leg-spinner soon proved to be worth every penny, becoming SRH's most dependable player over the next four years.
Rashid Khan was the SRH's most consistent performer during his stint with the franchise (IPLT20.com)
Rashid dazzled with 76 wickets in 62 games and played a critical role in the franchise's triumphs in the competition. In addition, the gifted leggie was a valuable asset with the bat and a phenomenal fielder. Despite his remarkable contributions, SRH decided to release him ahead of IPL 2022 as Rashid desired to be the top retained player over Kane Williamson, a decision that did not sit well with the team management.
3. Nicholas Pooran: INR 10.75 Crore in 2022
The 2016 IPL champioms made a massive splash at the IPL 2022 auction by acquiring Nicholas Pooran for a whopping 10.75 crore rupees, signaling high expectations for the talented left-handed batter. However, Pooran failed to live up to the billing, which ultimately resulted in his release from the franchise.
SRH decided to part ways with Nicholas Pooran after a solitary season (IPLT20.com)
In the 14 games that he played, the Caribbean sensation could only muster a modest 306 runs, averaging 38.25 with two half-centuries to his name. Sadly, the numbers did not reflect his hefty price tag, and as a result, the SRH opted to cut ties with the wicketkeeper-batter.
2. Manish Pandey: INR 11 Crore in 2018:
SRH had made a record-breaking bid at the IPL 2018 auction, acquiring Manish Pandey for INR 11 crore, the highest bid of that year, along with KL Rahul. However, Pandey's SRH career got off to a shaky start as he struggled to find his footing, managing only 284 runs in his first season.
Manish Pandey failed to unlock his true potential during his time with SRH (IPLT20.com)
In his second season, Pandey's form picked up slightly, but it was his third season that truly shone. He scored 425 runs in 16 innings, playing a significant role in SRH's journey to the Qualifier 2. However, out of the ten fifties he scored for the Orange Army until then, only two came in a winning cause. Unfortunately, after another underwhelming season in 2022, SRH decided to release him.
1. Harry Brook: INR 13.26 Crore in 2023
Harry Brook sparked a fierce bidding war among several teams. In the end, the Sunrisers emerged as the victors, securing his services for a staggering price of INR 13.25 crore. This made Brook the most expensive player in the franchise's history.
Harry Brook will look to carry his current form in IPL 2023 (Twitter)
The star English batter’s remarkable 2022 season saw him amass 436 runs in 14 T20 Blast games, earning him his maiden national call-up. He continued his fine form in the T20I series against Pakistan, where he won the Man of the Series award for his outstanding performance, scoring 238 runs in seven innings just before the auction. The Orange Army will hope that the Englishman will bring his explosive form to the IPL and help them claim their second title
 "Jatin")
